Policies Index

Volunteers, Students and Visitors Policy

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1. Overview

1.1. Purpose

To keep children, team members and all people attending the site safe, this policy outlines the rules, guidelines and standards of behaviour that all volunteers, students and visitors of Junior Adventures Group (JAG) are expected to uphold.

1.2. Scope

All JAG People are required to comply with the provisions set out in this policy, their contract of employment and all other relevant policies, procedures and legislation.

1.3. Legislative Requirements

Under the Education and Care Services National Regulations, JAG is required to have policies and procedures in place to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of the children in care.

2. Policy Statement

Volunteers, students and visitors are all vital stakeholders in the provision of high-quality education and support. As part of JAG’s commitment to encouraging supportive relationships and collaborative partnerships with families, visitors are welcome to participate in the program.

JAG is responsible for having policies and practices in place to ensure that all visitors are qualified to be on-site and conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful and safe and encourages active engagement in the learning environment.

3. Principles

3.1. Further Study and Professional Accountability

JAG sees value in the program encouraging participation by volunteers, students and visitors to enrich the educational program, build relationships with community members and support the Service. It supports volunteers and students undertaking childcare studies at universities, TAFE colleges and other Registered Training Organisations.

In line with JAG People, volunteers, students and other visitors are in a unique position of trust and influence with children, families, colleagues and the community. Therefore, professional accountability is essential. All volunteers, students and visitors will adhere to the law and act ethically and professionally at all times while on site.

3.2. Onboarding Volunteers

To ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of each child at the Service, a consistent approach to selecting and onboarding volunteers is applied.

This includes but is not limited to all volunteers, students and visitors providing child safety screening documentation (e.g., WWCC, WWVP and BC) for verification before entry to the program.

There are different requirements for child safety screening documentation and evidence, including exemptions, across all Australian states and territories. Team Members, students and

volunteers are advised to access up-to-date information regarding child safety screening relating to the state or territory they are operating in.

Service Leaders must seek advice from HR when intending to confirm a new volunteer or student and follow the onboarding process relevant to the state in which the site is located.

3.3. Mutual Respect, Equity and Fairness

Professionalism is demonstrated by applying the principles of mutual respect, equity and fairness while working with all key internal and external stakeholders. Team collaboration is expected to deliver the best experience for children.

Behaviour whilst at one of our services will reflect JAG’s values and philosophy, as well as the principles and practices outlined in the ’My Time, Our Place’, the Framework for School Aged Care in Australia, the ECA Code of Ethics and the UNCRC applying them as an individual and participating in team reflection on practice.

This includes the recognition that each child:

• is different, has unique interests, experiences and strengths

• has civil, cultural, linguistic, social and economic rights

• must have access to fair and inclusive practices that promote equity and a strong sense of belonging

• wellbeing, learning and development are intrinsically linked to leisure and play.

Further:

• learning and teaching are based on specialised knowledge and multiple perspectives

• partnership with families and the community plays a vital role in supporting children’s learning

• quality education and care is evidence based and in line with contemporary practice

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been nurturing and teaching children on this land for thousands of years; the Code of Ethics (2016) recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ traditional ways of being and caring for children.

3.4. Changes in Practice and Policy

Volunteers, students and visitors will adhere to organisational policies and procedures relating to the provision of education and care of children at all times. It is the responsibility of Team Members to ensure volunteers, students and visitors are kept up to date with changes in practice and policy within JAG and behave according to these expectations while on site.

Information will be provided upon commencement to all volunteers and students, specific to volunteer and student roles. The following table outlines specific rules and processes that apply to students and volunteers.

3.5. Review and Continuous Improvement

Volunteers and students are required to keep themselves up to date with contemporary practice and participate in review and continuous improvement to achieve the best outcomes for children.

3.6. Resolving Issues

Where issues or concerns arise, they must be raised with the Service Leader for guidance on the best way to approach the concern. If the matter cannot be resolved or it is outside the scope of their role, the Service Leader will follow it up to resolution and communicate the outcome to the person. To ensure professionalism and quick resolution of issues, no discussions about the matter should occur with anybody other than those directly involved to seek a solution.

3.7. Professional Relationships

As part of the volunteer or students agreement, clear, appropriate and professional relationships with all stakeholders will always be upheld, ensuring that there are no potential or perceived inequities in relationships they have with families, children or Team Members at the Service.

3.8. Disclosure of Conflicts

All volunteers, students and visitors must disclose all potential or perceived conflicts as a matter of priority as outlined in the HR Policy. If team members are unsure whether a situation that arises is a conflict, they must proactively speak to their line manager and seek guidance.

3.9. Breaches of Professional Conduct

Management will assess any incidents or breaches of professional conduct based on the evidence and determine any recourse to exercise as per company policies and procedures.

3.10. Child Safety

We safeguard children through our procedures and practices, with particular attention to the people they encounter and their experiences within our service. Policies and practices reflect the relevant legislation, including the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. JAG provides polices and procedures to equip JAG people with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children safe. Service Practice are continuously reviewed and improved to ensure current legislation is in effect throughout the business.

4. Key Terms

JAG People:

  • Any adult that governs, manages, conducts work for or provides activities to JAG in a paid or unpaid activity spanning all levels of the organisational structure

ECA Code of Ethics:

  • Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Australia is a set of statements that set out core principles and considerations to assure ethical conduct in service delivery.

My Time, Our Place:

  • Framework for school-age care in Australia that sets out core principles and practice outcomes to assure good practice outcomes in service delivery.

Student:

  • A person undertaking childcare studies at universities, TAFE colleges or other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs); this status is validated with the individual and the organisation that the student is enrolled in.

UNCRC:

  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which sets out the basic rights of all children.

Team Members:

  • JAG People that work directly with Children

Visitor:

  • A member of the community or any person not on the roster visiting the Service for any specific reason for a defined period of time. Parents/Guardians involved in the task of delivering/collecting children at the start/end of the day are not classified as visitors. A visitor may be invited to a Service to share or present a topic to the children attending the Service. For example, it may be a tribal elder, police officer or a parent/guardian visiting to share a skill.

Line Manager:

  • The persons in the direct supervisory role overseeing the work of the particular JAG person; the JAG persons escalate matters toward the person in this role, in the event of incidents and breaches

5. References

Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations

Children Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010

Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics (2016)

Educational and Care Services National Regulations

National Quality Standards for Early Childhood Education and Care and School Care

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Other Relevant Legislation

Regulation 77 - Health, hygiene and safe food practices

Regulation 90 - Medical conditions policy

Regulation 145 – Staff record

Regulation 147 – Staff members

Regulation 149 - Volunteers and Students

Regulation 151 – Record of educators working directly with children

Regulation 168 - Education and care service must have policies and procedures

Regulation 170 - Policies and procedures to be followed

Regulation 171- Policies and procedures to be kept available

Regulation 172 - Notification of change to policies or procedures

Regulation 181 – Confidentiality of records kept by approved provider

Regulation 183 – Storage of records and other documents Related Policies JAG 3.0 Proffessional Code of Conduct Safeguarding Children and Young People Risk Management Related Procedures 04P002 Staffing Arrangement Procedure Other Children Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics (2016) Educational and Care Services National Regulations National Quality Standards for Early Childhood Education and Care and School Care

United Nations Convention on the Rights if the Child (UNCRC) OCG Guide to Child Safe Standards - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-scheme CCYP Child safe Standards - https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/ National Principles for Child Safe Organisations - https://childsafe.humanrights.gov.au/national-principles

Version 3.0 Change History

JAG Policy Change Register Date Approved 01/07/2023 Date Implemented

01/07/2023 Document Owner Quality Service Development Document Approvers

CEO / Approved Provider Next Review 12 months